The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 60 points to close fractionally under 18,037.

By BERNARD CONDON

NEW YORK -- Rising oil prices helped push the stock market mostly higher on Tuesday, but the gains were tiny as investors weighed mixed results from companies reporting earnings.

Stocks fell shortly after the open, then headed mostly higher along with the price of oil. Chevron led the Dow Jones industrial average higher with a 2.2 percent gain.

A jump in JPMorgan Chase after the bank reported strong first-quarter earnings also helped push the blue-chip index higher. Wells Fargo slumped after reporting that its earnings had fallen.

The Dow Jones rose 59.66 points, or 0.3 percent, to 18,036.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 climbed 3.41 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,095.84. The Nasdaq composite fell 10.96 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,977.29.

Stocks have generally been rising this year, but the gains have been modest as several factors from labor strife at West Coast ports, bad weather, a slump in oil prices and a strengthening dollar have dug into earnings. A stronger currency makes profits earned overseas by U.S. multinationals worth less when translated back to dollars.

Companies in the S&P 500 are expected to report a 3.5 percent slump in earnings per share in the first quarter, according to S&P Capital IQ. That would be the first quarterly drop since the U.S. was climbing out of recession in 2009.

Many financial analysts and stock strategists are shrugging off the profit hit as temporary. But not everyone is convinced, said LPL Financial economist John Canally, and worry is beginning to creep in.

"What will be the further impact of the strong dollar? If you're an energy company, what do you do if oil prices don't rise? There are no answers yet," said Canally. "And that uncertainly is what markets don't like and so trading is choppy."

The impact of stronger dollar was seen in Johnson & Johnson's results released Tuesday. The company said a stronger dollar was partly to blame for an 8.6 percent drop in its first-quarter profit. The company also cut its full-year profit forecast. Shares fell three cents to $100.52.

Investors will have more results to mull over in the coming days. Bank of America, Delta Air Lines and Netflix report on Wednesday, giant money manager BlackRock and Goldman Sachs on Thursday and General Electric and IBM on Friday.

In total, 35 members of the S&P 500 are expected to report this week.

In economic news, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales rose 0.9 percent last month, after declining 0.5 percent in February. The rebound suggests that shoppers are returning after an unseasonably cold winter froze sales.

But the rise was less than economists had expected, and it follows other indicators that the U.S. economic growth is slowing. A jobs report released earlier this month showed that hiring had slowed dramatically in the March.

"It's remarkable that we've had relatively weak economic data but the market has held up," said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott. He added, "Investors are willing to look through that."

Among stocks making moves:

• JPMorgan Chase gained 97 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $63.04 after reporting earnings rose 11 percent in the first quarter. The nation's largest bank by assets was helped by strong results in its currency, commodities and fixed-income trading businesses.
• Norfolk Southern slumped 4.2 percent after forecasting disappointing first-quarter results after the close of trading on Monday. It said demand for coal shipments for export fell. Shares dropped $4.38 to $100.49. The railroad company reports results on April 29.
• Wells Fargo fell 40 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $54.19 after reporting first-quarter earnings fell slightly from the same period a year earlier. Gains from trading and mortgages were offset by lower income from other sources, such as card fees and deposit service charges.
• Avon Products surged 14 percent after The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with matter, reported that the beauty company is considering "strategic alternatives" that could include selling its North American business. Shares rose $1.14 to $9.15.

The rise in oil Tuesday came on indications that U.S. oil production in places like North Dakota is beginning to slip as a result of a sharp pullback in drilling activity in recent months. Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.38 to close at $53.29 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, rose 50 cents to close at $58.43 in London.

In other futures trading on the NYMEX:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 3.1 cents to close at $1.836 a gallon.
2. Heating oil rose 1.9 cents to close at $1.802 a gallon.
3. Natural gas rose 1.9 cents to close at $2.530 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In currency markets, the dollar slipped to 119.37 yen from 120.32 yen. The euro rose to $1.0655 from $1.0597.

Gold fell $6.70 to $1,192.60 an ounce, silver fell 13 cents to $16.16 an ounce and copper fell two cents to $2.70 a pound.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.89 percent from 1.93 percent late Monday.

The Air Force will decide in the summer of 2016 if it should bring refueling planes to Westover.

This story updates one posted at 6:11 p.m. Tuesday.

CHICOPEE — Westover Air Reserve Base is one of four finalists to host a fleet of a dozen brand new refueling tanker planes that can also carry passengers and cargo.

If selected, the base would get a dozen new KC-46A Pegasus tanker planes, which are now under construction by Boeing. It would also mean adding more pilots and maintainers to the base, said Lt. Col. James Bishop, chief of public affairs for Westover.

The news comes as the base faces federal budget cuts that will reduce its 16-plane fleet of C5-B Galaxy jets to eight, eliminate 59 full-time positions and 275 part-time Reserve positions.

"I'm pleased Westover has been an exciting part of America's global mission," U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, said as the announcement was released Tuesday.

The 439th Airlift Wing, located at Westover, was one of 18 Air Force Reserve units considered to house and fly the new refueling tankers. An Air Force study then whittled that down to just four, Lt. Col. James Bishop, chief of public affairs for Westover, said.

The preliminary study looked at several criteria to narrow down choices. One was to decide if the base has a large enough runway to handle the tankers, which Westover passed since it has one of the longest runways on the East Coast. It also examined each wing to see if it already had a global mobility mission, which Westover also passed since its air crews fly cargo all over the world, Bishop said.

The other bases now in consideration are Seymour-Johnson, in North Carolina; Tinker Air Force Base, in Oklahoma; and Grissom Air Reserve Base, in Indiana. The Air Force will select up to two bases for the new tanker planes, Bishop said.

The Air Force also recently selected the Altus Air Force Base, in Oklahoma, and the McConnell Air Force Base, in Kansas, as active duty bases that will fly the planes. Pease Air National Station in New Hampshire was the base selected to operate the refueling mission for the National Guard, he said.

The next step in the process is military officials will tour the bases over the next few months and decide if they have the operational capabilities and structural requirements to house the planes and the refueling mission, Bishop said.

The site surveys will be completed this summer with the list of preferred bases. The final decision will not be made until the summer of 2016, Bishop said.

If Westover was selected, the first plane would arrive in 2019 and planes would be added as they are built. The last plane would be scheduled to arrive in 2028, he said.

Westover does have some advantages in the selection process. Of all being considered, it is located closest to Europe, and there is also plenty of space to house a dozen planes. The base recently hosted a dozen F-15 Falcon jets while Barnes National Guard Base was under construction and they barely took up any space on the flight line, Bishop said.

"We have the runway, ramp space and a new $24 million fuel hydrant system," Master Sgt. Andrew S. Biscoe, public affairs technician, said.

The new fuel system, which is just being completed now, will be a plus because it is more environmentally friendly and more efficient for fueling jets, Bishop said.

If Westover is selected to host the dozen new planes, it will also mean additional jobs for pilots, mechanics and possibly other positions. Included in the positions will likely be some active duty staff as well as civilian and reservists positions, Bishop said.

The base currently has about 3,600 employees, including 2,300 reservists.

By bringing in an entirely new plane, it would also allow Westover to expand its mission. Along with operating the C-5B jets, Westover already also has a program that does the major regular tip-to-tail inspections for all C-5 planes in the Air Force Reserve, Bishop said.

"It will diversify the mission. On one side we carry heavy cargo, and with the KC-46 planes we would be a go-to spot for fueling planes," Bishop said.

Diversifying the Westover mission is something Neal and the rest of the Massachusetts congressional delegation brought up while meeting with the Secretary of the Air Force to discuss defense cuts.

"This would be a great thing for Westover and a great thing for the local economy," Bishop said.

Mayor Richard J. Kos, who has been working with State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, and a variety of other local representatives and senators to prevent the budget cuts, talked about the value Westover has to the community as well as the country.

"We are pleased to hear the Air Force is considering Westover as a site to host 12 refueling planes. Westover is an important part of not only our community, but our local economy. Any increase in activity at the base is a good thing for the base, our city, and our region," he said.

State officials have already agreed to invest more than $6 million to boost Westover's mission and try to protect it from further defense cuts. Included in the funding is opening a new $5 million National Aeronautics Research, Development and Training Center in partnership with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Some of the money will also create a solar farm on former housing land just outside the base.

Protesters say Boston is serving as a launching ground for nationwide protests on behalf of low-paid workers.

BOSTON -- Backers of a drive to hike wages for the nation's lowest paid workers to at least $15 per hour are holding a series of events in Boston.

Several hundred people, including college students, fast-food restaurant employees and other workers gathered for a rally on Tuesday afternoon at Forsyth Park near Northeastern University. Many held signs bearing messages such as "Fight for $15," ''Stop Corporate Greed," and "Jobs for Justice."

The group later planned a march to a McDonald's restaurant in downtown Boston, with several stops scheduled along the route.

Protesters say Boston is serving as a launching ground for nationwide protests on behalf of low-paid workers.

The Massachusetts Legislature approved a law last year raising the state's minimum wage in three steps to a U.S.-leading $11 per hour by 2017.

Gary Rome Hyundai's plan would be a $10 million project that would produce 50 full-time jobs.

This is a follow up to live-reporting posted earlier on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board on Tuesday (April 14) closed public hearings on dueling zone-change proposals -- car dealership vs. residential -- aimed at the same Whiting Farms Road site.

The zone-change petitions are vying for the same nearly 19 acres of vacant land owned by the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department (HGE). The site is on Whiting Farms Road across from Autumn and Lynch drives.

Public hearings for both zone-change petitons began March 31 and continued with testimony for another 90 minutes Tuesday before the boards' votes to close the hearings.

Gary Rome Hyundai wants to build a dealership on the HGE site. To do that, he needs to get the property zoned Business Highway and from the current Business General, which prohibits an auto dealership.

Gary Rome Hyundai currently is at 1000 Main St. here and Rome said that business would stay open regardless of whether he is able to build a new one.

Rome's plan to buy the property from HGE for $2,050,000 is contingent on getting the zone change.

Besides the revenue from the sale, Rome and lawyer Thomas "Toby" Wilson noted the Rome plan's benefits would include a $10 million structure, creation of 50 new full-time jobs, some part-time positions and millions of dollars in property tax revenue.

"I want to be that economic engine to get things rolling," Rome said.

Also targeting the HGE site are residents who want the zoning designation of the property changed to a use called RM-20. That stands for Multi-Family Residence at 20 units per acre. The uses are generally housing with limited commercial uses like bed and breakfast, funeral home, hospital and nursing home, Assistant City Solicitor Kara Cunha said.

The petition seeking the RM-20 use lists former city councilor Helen F. Norris as lead proponent.

Contrary to putting an auto dealership in a meadow across the street from residences, Norris said, the RM-20 would be a use compatible with the neighborhood.

"This is good for them and for the taxpayers," Norris said.

Councilor at Large Howard B. Greaney said it was important to note that there is no concrete plan before the city for a development under the proposed RM-20 zone change, but there is a concrete plan regarding the zone change Gary Rome is proposing.

Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Rebecca Lisi noted that councilors must make zone-change decisions regarding whether the change of uses would be appropriate, not regarding a particular project.

The next step is for the Planning Board to take recommendation votes on the two zoning proposals. The Ordinance Committee will consider those recommendations in making its own recommendation votes.

Those recommendations are among factors that will be considered by the full City Council, which has final say over zone-change requests.

Unofficial results provided by the town clerk show Awad with 676 votes to Lebrecque's 626

SOUTH HADLEY - There will be two new members on the 3-person South Hadley Electric Light Department Board of Commissioners.

In an upset, incumbent Jeffrey Lebrecque was ousted by Anne S. Awad in Tuesday's election.

And in a four-way race, Kurt C. Schenker defeated Peter Webster, who had been appointed to the office earlier this year.

Unofficial results provided by the town clerk show Awad with 676 votes to Lebrecque's 626.

"I had a huge, diverse, group of people from across the town who helped me," Awad said in a telephone interview.

The newly elected SHELD commissioner said she plans to recommend at Wednesday's meeting that the board, in the future, convene at Town Hall, in the early evening, and the meetings should be shown on community television.

Currently, SHELD meetings are at 4:30 p.m. in the department's kitchen area.

Contacted after the results were known, Lebrecque said, "I want to thank all my supporters, ratepayers, and the business community for believing in me.

"I want to wish Mrs. Awad the best," he said.

Schenker received 376 votes in victory.

Kevin Hennessey also ran for that seat, receiving 325 votes; as did Daniel Whitford, with 304 votes. Webster was last with 221 votes.

In the only other contested race, for three public library trustees, the winners were Mitchell B. Resnick with 920 votes; Constance A. Clancey, 903; and Timna Tarr, 671. Donald D'Amato received 613 votes in a losing effort.

Also elected were Edward J. Ryan as Town Moderator; John R. Hine and Bruce C. Forcier for the Selectboard; Kevin M. McAllister and Christine Ann Phillips, School Committee; Suzanne M. Cordes, Board of Health; Hazel R. Snopek, Board of Assessors; and Mark Cavanaugh for Planning Board.

Data provided by the town clerk show a 13 percent turnout, with 1,345 casting ballots out of 10,378 registered voters.

Springfield and Massachusetts State Police gave the crowd several warnings to disperse, then moved in when a small group linked arms and refused to step onto the sidewalk. The protesters were placed in flex cuffs and led to a waiting van. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - Several dozen Black Lives Matter activists poured into The X on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the shutdown of the heavily-traveled Forest Park intersection for about 20 minutes.

Protesters chanted anti-police slogans, accusing law enforcement of institutionalized racism and demanding swifter prosecutions of officers who kill black people. They carried signs marking the high-profile deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York.

Springfield and Massachusetts State Police gave the crowd several warnings to disperse, then moved in when a small group linked arms and refused to step onto the sidewalk. The protesters were placed in flex cuffs and led to a waiting van.

Before the protest, organizers said some people would have a phone number written on their arms they could call for legal help.

Officers shepherded the remainder away from the area as the protesters called them "pigs" and "racists," oinked at them and pledged to continue their demonstrations.

"We shut s--- down!" they chanted. "What do we do when the pigs attack? Stand up! Fight back!"

Mayor Domenic Sarno was on-scene conferring with police and ignoring insults hurled at him by the protesters.

"Have a safe trip back home," said Sarno. He repeatedly chided them for their extensive use of profanity. "We appreciate your efforts. It's time to move on. Let our officers patrol our streets."

"We want a people's mayor, not a pig's mayor!" the protesters retorted. "Up with the people! Down with the mayor! Oink oink!"

Click through the photos above to see scenes from Tuesday's protest.

The survey will be available in Spanish and English until April 24.

SPRINGFIELD — A new executive director and Board of Directors for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Springfield are hoping to make some changes to the organization and they want your input.

The PRCC is asking community members to take a short survey, available here in Spanish or English, sharing their ideas, concerns, suggestions and hopes for the organization.

"We are aware of the negative perception that some people have of the cultural center. All of the new board members came in with the same questions, what exactly does the PRCC do and how are we serving the community," said Gladys Franco, vice chair of the board.

Other board members include Chairman Jose Saavedra, Treasurer Maria L. Rodriguez, Clerk Ana Sanchez, as well as Natalia Munoz, Nelson Roman, Roberto Burgos and Sgt. Julio Toledo. The new Executive Director of the PRCC is David Silva.

Franco said the board is hoping to implement many changes, but not before getting input from the people they are meant to serve.

"We had been talking about what to do in order to provide better services to the community and to connect with the community, but before we implement anything we want feedback," she said.

The survey asks simple questions about what people value most from cultural events and festivals to sports and family focused activities and what their current knowledge is of what the PRCC does.

Franco said the idea is to re-establish the center as a place where people can come for services but also to learn about the historical and cultural importance of Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries through music, visual arts and education.

"When the cultural center was founded years ago there were primarily Puerto Rican families living in the area, but that has changed over time. We want to be inclusive of all Latino communities who reside in the region, " she said.

Franco is hoping at least 400 people will take the survey, facilitated by Momina Sims of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Department of Public Health and NC&S Associates Kevin Molina and Samalid Hogan.The surveys must be completed by April 24th.

The board will also be hosting two focus groups with leaders and organizations that serve the Latino community. The focus groups will be held April 17 and April 24. For more information or to register contact Franco at (413) 209-2814 or email her at gladysnatalia@aol.com.

"There is so much potential in the cultural center and so much more we can be doing and all of us who have joined the board want to be a part of that change," she said.

Col. Timothy Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, praised the prosecution team that convinced a jury Hernandez murdered 27-year-old Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro in June 2013.

As Aaron Hernandez begins serving a lifelong prison sentence, reaction to his murder conviction is pouring in from all circles, including law enforcement.

Col. Timothy P. Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, praised the prosecution team that convinced a jury Hernandez murdered 27-year-old Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro in June 2013.

"Working with our Detectives assigned to the Bristol DA's Office and the North Attleboro PD, this team worked relentlessly in putting together a masterful prosecution strategy and presenting the commonwealth's evidence that resulted in today's verdict," Alben's statement reads.

"The citizens of Bristol County and this commonwealth can take great pride and satisfaction in knowing that justice has been served in this case and that no one is above the law," he continued.

Hernandez is a former New England Patriots standout and had signed a $40 million, 5-year contract extension shortly before his arrest for Lloyd's shooting death. Two alleged accomplices face separate trials.

In his statement, Alben also singled out District Attorney Tom Quinn and lead prosecutor William McCauley for congratulations.

The new college will help attract faculty and students to a master's program in the computer sciences.

AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts has created a new College of Information and Computer Sciences that opens Sept. 1

UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said in an-mail said that W. Bruce Croft, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and an expert in information retrieval, will be the interim dean of the 800 undergraduates 150 doctoral students currently in the computer science school.

 "Our computer science faculty have long been recognized as national and international leaders in research and education," Subbaswamy said in the release.

"They already generate $18 million a year in federal and other research support. Establishing this new college will enable them to pursue new programs and collaborations within the campus and the university system, increase the scope of the college's industry relations and enhance its already strong national reputation." 

Bruce Croft.Submitted  

Croft said this has been something faculty has been pushing for for several years. When it became a school from a department "that was a stepping stone." But as a school they were still one of 16 departments in the College of Natural Sciences.

But as a college, it becomes a single unit on a college level. It will enable the college to work in a more strategic way both within the univesity and industry.

He thinks it will help attract faculty and they are hoping to expand the master's program. 

UMass spokesman Daniel Fitzgibbons said this designation gives "it a lot more of independence. With a dean being part of (the college) it enhances their ability to attract faculty, allows them to expand programs." It should help them raise more research money.

Eventually the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and the Isenberg School of Management will become colleges as well, bringing the number of colleges within the campus to 10, he said.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has awarded the bid to rebuild the two-mile-long Interstate 91 viaduct through downtown Springfield.

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has awarded the bid to rebuild the two-mile-long  Interstate 91 viaduct through downtown Springfield.

JF White-Schiavone of Framingham submitted the lowest bid at $148 million, according to a state news release.

The total project cost, which in addition to the bid price includes railroad flaggers, traffic details, protections against cost overruns, and an incentive clause for the contractor to expedite the work, is approximately $183.3 million, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

The Mass DOT said the contract also provides for an incentive of $50,000 per day for each day the contractor completes the work early, up to 180 days. This means the contractor would be eligible to receive a total of $9 million as a maximum bonus.  

The road deck through downtown Springfield, which dates to the 1960s, needs to be replaced.

The contractor will need a few months to order materials and prepare for construction, which will begin in summer, weather depending, the state said. Work should take three years.

Traffic will have to be rerouted during that time, a task made tougher because  the $800 million MGM Springfield casino development will be under construction at the same time.

Now that the contractor has been identified, the city will start working on detailed detour plans, said Kevin Kennedy, Springfield's chief development officer. He said to expect much of the traffic diverted onto East Columbus and West Columbus avenues. Highway signage will also encourage travelers to use alternative routes, presumably Route 5 through West Springfield.

"Now that the state is negotiating contracts, we will learn more about a timeline and how the work will progress," Kennedy said.

On an average day, 75,000 vehicles travel through the I-91 corridor.

This project will not involve the long-sought realignment of the highway or possibly lowering the deck to surface level or burying it in an open trench in the style of Storrow Drive in Boston. Both moves would reconnect Springfield to its waterfront on the Connecticut River. But any realignment would take at least 10 years to plan and execute.

Interstate 91 presentation

The seminar is designed to familiarize candidates for election and voters with the election process.

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield City Library and the Springfield Board of Elections will be hosting a candidate/voter seminar on Thursday at the Forest Park Library.

The purpose of the seminar is to familiarize candidates for election and voters with the election process, according to a news release.

The seminar is free and takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, located at 380 Belmont Ave.

The interactive presentation entitled, "Learn about elections from A to Z," will be hosted by Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola and Holyoke Ward 2 City Councilor Anthony Soto.

Gladys OyolaFile photo

Topics will include, why someone should register to vote, who has the right to vote, how candidates get on the ballot, how they can learn more about potential voters, and how to file an initiative petition.

Audience questions are welcome.

Special guests include former elected officials including ex-state Sen. Brian Lees and former State Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, who will give their perspectives on being a candidate and the importance of being an active voter.

Elections staff will also be on hand to register Springfield residents and help them check their voter status.

Belmont Avenue is slated for paving between Locust Street and Woodside Terrace.

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission 

SPRINGFIELD -- Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes or to expect traffic delays on a section of Belmont Avenue, beginning Thursday, due to a final paving project.

Contractors hired by the Springfield Water And Sewer Commission will do the paving work on Belmont Avenue from Locust Street to Woodside Terrace, according to the commission.

The paving completes last year's pipe replacement project, and should last approximately a week, weather permitting, the commission said.

Typical construction hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m., to 4 p.m.

Due to the nature of this work, changes to traffic patterns and traffic delays are expected, the commission stated. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained, but lane shifts are expected.

In addition, street parking will not be available in the work area. Traffic will be managed with posted signs and police details, according to the commission.

The Easthampton private boarding school has hired an attorney to investigate the allegations.

EASTHAMPTON — The Williston Northampton School announced that a longtime faculty member has been placed on leave and an investigation is under way after the school learned of allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct involving a student more than 35 years ago.

In a statement distributed to parents and campus alumni, Robert W. Hill III, the head of the school, and James M. Dubin, president of the Board of Trustees, said they are taking the allegations very seriously even though they reportedly occurred in the late 1970s.

"Although standards and policies have changed over the years, inappropriate adult behavior has consequences, whenever it is discovered," the statement reads. "To ignore those consequences would be to shrink from our duties and to deny individuals the opportunity to heal."

School officials have contacted law enforcement officials about the allegations. The campus has also hired a lawyer, Susan E. Schorr, of the Andover law firm of Schwartz Hannum PC, to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.

The statement notes that while the allegations specifically involve one faculty member and one student, the school is inviting other alumni to contact Schorr with any recollections they have of any sexual misconduct at the school or any other information that could prove helpful.

"We understand that students who were subject to inappropriate behavior may carry with them the scars of traumatic experiences for many years, and we believe strongly that we have a moral responsibility to now address past wrongs," the statement reads.

No specific details were disclosed about when or where it occurred or between whom. The identity of the faculty member was not disclosed, and the wording of the statement is careful not to use pronouns to indicate the gender of the faculty member or the person making the accusations.

The statement does say that the faculty member has been placed on administrative leave and is no longer on campus.

Traci Wolfe, Williston spokeswoman, said the school learned of the allegations last week and then acted quickly to bring it to the public. "We want to be as transparent as possible," she said.

Although the allegations are from the late 1970s, she said the school feels that does not matter. "We're trying to be responsible," Wolfe said. "There's never a wrong time to do the right thing."

There is not set timeline for when the investigation is expected to be finished.

Steven G. Gagne, first assistant district attorney with the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, said that as a matter of policy the DA's office does not confirm or deny the existence of criminal investigations.

"However, we are grateful to Williston Northampton School for initiating an independent investigation into any sexual misconduct that may have occurred between a faculty member and student. The safety and emotional well-being of children is a shared concern of our office and the Williston school community," he said.

Williston Northampton Statement in full.

Dear Members of the Williston Northampton School Community: It is with great sadness that we write you with difficult news from the school. Last week, we learned of sexual conduct by a member of Williston Northampton's faculty involving a student in the late 1970s. Although standards and policies have changed over the years, inappropriate adult behavior has consequences, whenever it is discovered. To ignore those consequences would be to shrink from our duties and to deny individuals the opportunity to heal. We have notified appropriate law enforcement authorities, and placed the faculty member, who is no longer on campus, on immediate administrative leave pending the results of an independent investigation. At Williston Northampton today, integrity, on an individual and institutional level, is central to our mission. We understand that students who were subject to inappropriate behavior may carry with them the scars of traumatic experiences for many years, and we believe strongly that we have a moral responsibility to now address past wrongs. While this particular incident involved one faculty member and one student, we recognize that other alumni may have information they wish to share with the school. With the intent of completing a comprehensive investigation, Williston Northampton has retained the help of an experienced investigator, Susan E. Schorr, at an independent law firm. We respectfully encourage you to contact Susan at (978) 623-0900 or sschorr@shpclaw.com with any information that you may have about any sexual misconduct at the school or any other information that you believe would be helpful. We will update you as the investigation proceeds. The safety of the school's students--physically and emotionally--is our highest priority. The school has excellent policies and procedures in place to encourage any member of the community--students, parents, faculty, staff and volunteers--to come forward should he or she suspect wrongdoing of any kind at the school. We continually examine current practices to ensure that appropriate boundaries are maintained between adults and students and that all members of our community clearly understand what to do should anyone suspect that a boundary has been crossed. Williston Northampton is a close community, built on a foundation of trust, and student safety is at the core of all we do. That will continue to hold true as we move forward through this painful, but necessary, process.

Yours sincerely,
Robert W. Hill III P'15, '19, Head of School
James M. Dubin '64, President, Board of Trustees

The disposition means that the charges against Jennifer Roy, 37, of Chicopee will be dismissed after April 2016 if she abides by her probation and is not charged with new offenses. Roy was arraigned in Westfield District Court in September on charges of larceny over $250 by a single scheme.

WESTFIELD -- The case of a manager at All Star Car & Truck Rental in Agawam who allegedly pocketed thousands in cash payments has been continued without finding, according to court documents.

The disposition means that the charges against Jennifer Roy, 37, of Chicopee will be dismissed after April 2016 if she abides by her probation and is not charged with new offenses. Roy was arraigned in Westfield District Court in September on charges of larceny over $250 by a single scheme.

John Sarat, owner of the car rental business, reported the thefts to Agawam police last July after he noticed a rental agreement that had been paid in cash was voided, police reports said.

When Sarat realized how simple it was for employees to delete a rental paid in cash, he checked All Star's computer records for similar transactions that had also been voided. Sarat noted 15 rental contracts that had been deleted with cash unaccounted for from Nov. 2012 to July 2014. All those payments had been processed by Roy, who was the manager at the time, reports said.

In each instance, a customer would rent a vehicle and leave a credit card on file, Sarat told police. When the customer returned the vehicle, no charges were made to the credit card and the balance was paid in cash. Payments ranged from $63 to $2,100, court documents show.

When Sarat asked Roy why the 15 contracts had been deleted, Roy did not give an answer, according to police reports.

Roy has been ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution directly to the business.

The Senate version of the bill caps the number of employees who can retire and directs the administration to identify critical positions that would be exempt from the incentive.

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday passed a version of an early retirement incentive plan for state employees that caps the number of employees who can retire and directs the administration to identify critical positions that would be exempt from the plan.

State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, called the bill a "thoughtful, articulate approach to the process." "Through a collaborative process, the Senate has crafted a strong bill that offers tools to achieve savings without undermining the operation of state government," Spilka said.

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, proposed a plan to trim the state workforce by 4,500 people by offering a voluntary incentive that would boost the pensions of executive branch employees who were eligible to retire but who had not reached their maximum pension benefit.

The retirements are likely to be concentrated in certain agencies, with the Department of Revenue and the departments overseeing transportation, mental health, environmental protection and welfare assistance among those with the most employees eligible to retire. The Baker administration would be allowed to use 20 percent of the savings to hire people to refill positions that were left vacant.

The House passed the bill as it was proposed by Baker without a public hearing. The Senate, after holding a hearing, proposed a more targeted approach.

The Senate bill would cap retirements at 4,500. While Baker had estimated that 4,500 people would retire, more workers could potentially have left.

The Senate bill directs the administration to designate "critical" positions that would be exempt from reductions and to identify "priority" positions that would be the first to be refilled. It requires the administration to report back to the Legislature on the impacts of the retirement program on savings and agency operations. It gives the administration the option of achieving savings through a continued hiring freeze or through buyouts of targeted employees. It also allows employees who take the incentive to be rehired as consultants for 90 days in order to train new workers.

The Senate bill is expected to save the state $172 million next year, after both savings and costs are taken into account.

The bill passed by voice vote over opposition from some senators, who worried about the impacts on state services and future pension costs.

"We are kicking the can down the road," said State Sen. William Brownsberger, D-Belmont, pointing to the additional retirement costs the state will take on.

State Sen. Michael Barrett, D-Lexington, said the employees would make their retirement decisions based on personal factors like their financial circumstances and their families, not on what is best for state government.

"Somehow, collectively in the aggregate, all these highly familial and personal decisions are going result in staffing for state agencies that deliver critically needed services to everyone in Massachusetts," Barrett said. "That's a very odd way to manage.... It's management by rolling the dice. It's management by a failure to manage."

Under the Senate bill, the application period for retirees would be from April 27 to May 29, with a retirement date of June 30.

The House and Senate must now hammer out a compromise bill before it goes to Baker for his signature.

Renting has gotten increasingly expensive over the last five years. The average U.S. rent has climbed 14 percent to $1,124 since 2010, according to commercial property tracker Reis Inc. T

LOS ANGELES — Living in an apartment? Expect your rent to go up again.

Renting has gotten increasingly expensive over the last five years. The average U.S. rent has climbed 14 percent to $1,124 since 2010, according to commercial property tracker Reis Inc. That's 4 percentage points faster than inflation, and more than double the rise in U.S. home prices over the same period.

Now, even with a surge in apartment construction, rents are projected to rise yet another 3.3 percent this year, to an average $1,161, according to Reis. While that's slower than last year's 3.6 percent increase, the broader upward trend isn't going away.

"The only relief in sight is rents in the hottest markets are going to go up at a slower pace, but they're still going to go up," says Hessam Nadji, chief strategy officer at Marcus & Millichap, a commercial real estate services firm.

The main reason: More people than ever are apartment hunting.

Young people who have been living with their parents are increasingly finding jobs and moving out. Rising home prices are leading many long-time renters to stay put.

In addition, most of the new apartments coming on the market are aimed at affluent tenants and carry higher-than-average rents. That's especially true in cities where new buildings are going up in urban core areas, which means builders need to recoup higher land and development costs.

Competition for apartments means renters are less likely to be able to negotiate with landlords, or win concessions such as a free month's rent.

More jobs, more competition

During the last recession many workers who lost their jobs moved in with relatives or took on roommates. About 32 percent of U.S. adults were living with roommates or adult family members in 2012, up from 27.4 percent in 2006, according to Zillow, an online real estate firm.

Stepped-up hiring has begun to reverse that trend. About 2.8 million more Americans have jobs than 12 months ago.

"The share of young adults with jobs has climbed in the past year, and that will help many of them move out of their parents' homes," says Jed Kolko, chief economist at online real estate firm Trulia. "Most of them will be renters first."

More people vying for apartments helps drive rents higher. And metropolitan areas with faster job growth are generally seeing higher-than-average rent hikes as well.

The three metro areas with the biggest annual increase in rent in January, according to Trulia: Denver (14.2 percent), Oakland, California (12.1 percent), and San Francisco (11.6 percent).

Job growth in each of those cities also eclipsed the national growth rate of 2.3 percent over the 12 months ended in January. Employment grew 3.7 percent in Denver, 2.7 percent in Oakland and 4.5 percent in San Francisco.

Home buying delayed

Traditionally, renting has been a stepping stone toward homeownership. When rents rise, tenants are motivated to buy sooner, especially when interest rates are near historic lows, as they are now.

But these days, renters are taking longer to buy. The U.S. homeownership rate ended last year at a 19-year low of 64.4 percent.

Between higher rents taking a bigger bite out of the bank account and sharply higher home prices, potential buyers are having more trouble saving for a down payment and qualifying for a mortgage.

And many millennials, or 18- to 34-year-olds, simply prefer renting.

When renters stay put, fewer apartments are available for new tenants, which in turn drives up rents.

New apartments are pricey

Developers added 238,000 apartments nationwide last year, a 14-year high, with another 210,000 expected this year, according to Marcus & Millichap.

In theory, more apartment construction should help bring down rents because landlords would compete for tenants. But 80 percent of new complexes, Nadji estimates, are high-end projects aimed at renters willing to pay a premium for amenities like gourmet kitchens and concierge service.

How much of a premium? The average rent for apartments completed last year was $1,721. That's 46 percent higher than the average apartment rent for older units, according to Marcus & Millichap and data provider MPF Research.

"There's very little new supply being added anywhere else," says Nadji, "so that's why there's so much pressure on rents and very little choice for the average renter."

The press conference will note a busy past 10 days for police and the mayor said the chief will outline "their success."

HOLYOKE -- Chief James M. Neiswanger is scheduled to announce Thursday (April 16) police have arrested dozens of people and seized guns and drugs in recent sweeps of problem spots.

A press conference is set for 3 p.m. at the Police Station, 138 Appleton St., Lt. James Albert said.

"The purpose is to address the recent police operations and Narcotics / Vice search warrants executed in and around the city in the past 10 days resulting in numerous arrests and seizures of weapons and narcotics," Albert said.

An area of focus for police in the raids has been a 40-unit apartment building at Appleton and Elm streets to which police have been dispatched hundreds of times in the past five years to deal with various crimes.

The property -- which has addresses in city records of 365 Appleton St. and 173-177 Elm St. -- is owned by Windsor Realty, a limited liability company based in Bedford. The resident agent of that company is Lucjan Hronowski, of Bedford, according to records.

On Feb. 27 at that address, police arrested 13 people on heroin charges in a raid Holyoke police conducted with Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, the FBI Gang Task Force, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration Gang Task Force and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Between January 2011 and late July 2014, police were dispatched to 365 Appleton St. and 173-177 Elm St. 1,274 times and a man was stabbed to death outside there July 14, 2014.

Mayor Alex B. Morse will attend the police press conference.

"The Police Department, led by Chief Neiswanger, have been doing an excellent job responding to recent incidents. He will be outlining their success, tomorrow at the police headquarters," Morse said.

A stronger felony charge wasn't applicable because the Fayette County grand jury didn't find evidence that William McCollom intended to harm Margaret McCollom, the prosecutor said.

The former police chief in Peachtree City, Georgia, was indicted Wednesday on a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge for shooting his ex-wife in the back while they slept, authorities said.

A stronger felony charge wasn't applicable because the Fayette County grand jury didn't find evidence that former Chief William McCollom intended to harm Margaret McCollom, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard said, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

If convicted, McCollom, who resigned after the incident, faces up to a year in jail.

The shooting in their suburban Atlanta home left his ex-wife paralyzed below the waist, according to the indictment.

The couple had divorced in 1999 but began spending time together again, The Associated Press reported.

According to McCollom, he accidentally pulled the trigger in his sleep in their suburban Atlanta home after he got up in the middle of the night New Year's Day. He said he had taken his service gun to search the house after hearing barking dogs, the Journal Constitution reported.

He told authorities he still had the gun when he returned to bed, then fell asleep before hearing a gunshot, apparently while trying to move the weapon to a nightstand.

He said he had earlier drunk alcohol and taken medication to help him sleep.

"The gun was in the bed, I went to move it, and I put it to a side and it went off," McCollom told a 911 dispatcher.

Margaret McCollom also told police she believed the shooting was an accident, although she was asleep at the time it occurred. She remains hospitalized, WIXA-TV reported.

While investigators found no evidence the chief intended to hurt his wife, Ballard said, the shooting could have been prevented.

"There is no evidence to suggest that Chief McCollom intentionally shot Mrs. McCollom, nor did the investigation reveal any motive to cause her harm," Ballard said in the statement.

Thomas Cook Jr,, his defense attorney, did not respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Personnel records obtained by AP showed no evidence of criminality, serious misconduct or recklessness in his past, it said. McCollom also did police work over the past 30 years in Wyoming and Florida.

Up to four used-cars could be available for sale at JP's Restaurant & Sports Bar under a proposal.

HOLYOKE -- James P. Lavelle Jr. requested approval of a zone-change needed to sell used vehicles at the family-run JP's Restaurant & Sports Bar at 200 Whiting Farms Road while three residents spoke against the change at a public hearing.

The next step after the hearing Tuesday (April 14) at City Hall is a Planning Board discussion and recommendation vote. Those steps tentatively are set for April 28, Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Department of Planning and Economic Development, said Wednesday.

Lavelle is seeking a zone change to Business Highway from the current Business General to allow for auto sales.

Previously, Lavelle was selling used cars with a license from the License Board as a nonconforming use. But in 2011, the city blocked renewal of that license, because it was a nonconforming use, he said told the City Council Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board during the public hearing.

"Like I said before, I did it for 10 years and nobody knew I was doing it," Lavelle said.

"What brings you back, four years later," Planning Board member Chris LaChappelle said.

Lavelle said he was prompted to get renewed permission to sell used cars given the protential for extra auto-seeking traffic on Whiting Farms Road from a proposal for a dealership the city is considering from Gary Rome Hyundai on the same street.

The history has included the city having different building inspectors over the past several years who made different decisions about Lavelle selling used cars at JP's Restaurant, Planning Board member Eileen Regan said.

"So you're not going to have five or six cars there," Planning Board member John Kelley said.

Lavelle said no, it would be like he did previously, when until 2011 he was able to sell up to four cars at 200 Whiting Farms Road.

Ordinance Committee member Gordon P. Alexander asked about the current uses for 200 Whiting Farms Road.

"It's presently a restaurant, it's been there for 30 years," Lavelle said.

Since Lavelle also will have to apply for a special permit from the City Council to sell vehicles at 200 Whiting Farms Road, if the zone change is approved, enough city controls are in place to ensure the business will run properly, Alexander said.

Terri Laramee, of Gordon Drive, said used-car-sales is a use neighbors would rather not having in their neighborhood.

Some residents were at City Hall also to protest Rome's proposal, which also requires a zone change from Business Highway from Business General, saying auto dealerships are incompatible with their neighborhood.

"I know you wouldn't want it," Laramee said.

The city is in danger of turning Whiting Farms Road into Memorial Drive in Chicopee, she said. Memorial Drive is a shopping-center, retail-clogged and traffic-intensive area.

Laramee questioned the fairness of that to people who live there.

Gayle Keith, of Farnum Drive, opposed Lavelle's plan. City boards are threatening the neighborhood's quality of life with the prospect of permitting auto dealerships, she said.

"This doesn't make sense. This is what we're afraid of. It's zone-creep....It is the beginning of the end of our neighborhood. There's no question about that," Keith said.

Susan Van Pelt of Walnut Street also spoke against approving the zone change for auto sales at 200 Whiting Farms Road.

Once the Planning Board votes its recommendation on Lavelle's zone-change petition, that recommendation will go to the Ordinance Committee. The committee will consider that in voting its own recommendation to the full City Council, which has authority over zone changes.

Superintendent Thomas Charko and Converse Middle School Principal David Stetkiewicz allegedly failed to follow policy and report the threat, which turned out to be bogus.

PALMER — A recent bomb threat at a town school wasn't reported to local authorities, and the Palmer School Committee is expected to discuss that and other topics on Thursday evening.

At issue is why School Superintendent Thomas Charko and Converse Middle School Principal David Stetkiewicz failed to report the April 7 threat to police and fire officials. The threat turned out to be bogus, but the administrators' decision not to report it has upset parents and public safety officials, some of whom plan to attend the 6 p.m. meeting.

"I don't know all the details and findings, but if there was a threat and no one called it in, that is problematic. It's a serious issue," fire Chief Alan Roy told MassLive / The Republican last week.

"In this day and age, you err on the side of caution," School Committee chairman Gary Blanchette said. "You've got to follow district policy."

That policy requires a principal to order an evacuation and to alert authorities as soon as a threat is discovered. That didn't happen on April 7, according to Blanchette. The only communication was a pair of emails from the superintendent's office, both of which were confusing and sometimes contradictory, he said.

"The superintendent and the principal deemed the threats were not credible," Blanchette said, adding that the policy doesn't include any leeway when assessing a threat level. "It's pretty clear what the policy says," he said.

This isn't the first time Charko and school district leaders have been criticized for alleged poor communication during a perceived crisis.

In November 2012, then Town Councilor Paul Burns said school officials dropped the ball when they provided inadequate information to parents of Palmer High students about an evacuation at the school. Burns claimed an automated phone message was "cryptic," causing some parents to worry even more.

The threat, written on restroom wall, prompted an early dismissal and phone calls from parents who wanted more information. One parent told MassLive / The Republican that the automated message indicated students were being sent home because "it was not safe" for them to remain at school. When the woman called the high school for more information, she claimed, a receptionist told her "I am not at liberty to tell you."

An email sent to parents indicated the high school was placed on lockdown due to a "threat to safety."

In the latest incident, which also turned out to be a written threat, school administrators allegedly had a Converse Middle School janitor check out the threat, rather than call 911 and evacuate the school.

One parent, in an email to MassLive / The Republican, wrote: "People in the town are really looking for answers as to how this bomb threat was handled. Kids were kept in the school for over an hour and a half after the initial threat was found."

Roy, the fire chief, said he and his department were kept in the dark about the threat. "The only word I've gotten about it, officially, was from the police department," he said last week. "They were inquiring whether we had been contacted about the bomb scare, (and) we were not," Roy said.

Charko, meanwhile, is retiring as superintendent on June 30. He announced his plans to step down before the April 7 threat was issued.